What we thought we knew entering spring practice

Guarantano would be atop the quarterback depth chart entering the spring after starting six of the final seven games last season, but McBride would have a chance to usurp him with a dominant spring. Guarantano and McBride, both sophomores, were the only scholarship quarterbacks in camp. McBride started one game in 2017.

Guarantano and McBride were tasked with impressing a new coaching staff and also with learning a new system, as offensive coordinator Tyson Helton installed a pro-style offense this spring. Part of that means taking more snaps under center.

What we learned from spring practice

Guarantano exits the spring in the driver’s seat for the starting job. First-year coach Jeremy Pruitt declined to say as much after the spring game, even though Guarantano was named the game’s most valuable player. But Pruitt’s actions in handling the quarterbacks say more than his words.

Guarantano spent the spring at the front of the QB drill line during practices. Then he took every snap with the starting offense during the spring game, and his unit picked apart UT’s starting defense en route to a 34-7 victory.

Guarantano wasn’t flawless, but he showed more good than bad during the spring game, completing 15 of 27 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He looked comfortable at the reins of Helton’s offense.

McBride, meanwhile, completed six of 18 passes during the spring game working with the backup offense against the defensive reserves.

Tennessee quarterback Will McBride (17) throws a pass during the Tennessee Volunteers Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

One public showing doesn’t tell the story of the spring, Pruitt cautioned, but it was further proof that Guarantano enters the summer at the front of the pack.

What’s next?

The competition will sort of hit the reset button this summer. Guarantano held off one contender for the throne during the spring. Now, he’ll have to fend off another. Chryst has experience operating a pro-style system. That’s what Stanford uses.

Chryst is a proven winner, posting an 11-2 record as Stanford’s starting quarterback. But he lost the starting job at Stanford last season, and his numbers within the run-oriented Cardinal offense don’t pop. During his Stanford career, he completed 55.4 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions.

FILE – In this Sept. 9, 2017, file photo, then-Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, in Los Angeles. Tennessee has added former Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst to its roster as a graduate transfer. Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt has confirmed the addition of Chryst, who started seven games for Stanford last season before getting replaced by K.J. Costello. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Pruitt has said repeatedly that the top aspects he’s looking for from his starting quarterback are ball security and a leader who can spark the rest of the offense.

The Vols are familiar with Guarantano, and he had a chance to shape his leadership voice throughout the spring. Chryst, while new, proved to be a leader at his last school.

Chryst was spotted on the field observing a Tennessee spring practice, and SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy said during the spring game broadcast that Chryst spent a week in meetings with UT's coaching staff. Suffice it to say he plans to hit the ground running.

Also joining the mix this summer will be freshman JT Shrout, but smart money is that Guaratano or Chryst will take the first snap of the Vols’ season opener against West Virginia.

For now, Guarantano is the man to beat.

Jeremy Pruitt questions fan turnout at Vols spring game

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt wasn’t thrilled by the attendance at the spring game